The pick of Palin, the first female Republican VP candidate, was designed in part to lure women voters to the GOP ticket, with McCain aides hoping a significant proportion of that voting bloc would identify with Palin's working-mom credentials.

But in a CNN/ORC survey released Monday, McCain drew 56 percent of support from registered white women - a statistically insignificant 3 points more than his support among that demographic in the week before he picked Palin as his VP.

These numbers appear to contradict findings from a recently released Washington Post/ABC News poll that suggested the Arizona senator gained 20 points among white women after Palin joined the ticket and prompted several stories of the Illinois senator's new problem with this key demographic.

But the CNN/ORC poll indicates McCain is even more popular among white women than Palin is (69 vs. 65 percent approval) - evidence his support among that demographic may be attributed to his own appeal, not Palin's. Obama and Joe Biden are also popular with white women, though not to quite the same degree: 58 percent said they held a favorable view of Obama while 55 percent said the same of Biden in the latest poll.

"White women have a favorable view of Sarah Palin, but they have a favorable view of Barack Obama and Joe Biden as well," Holland said.

White women have been a key voting bloc in several recent elections, though their support has not always proved decisive. Al Gore won the popular vote while losing among white women in 2000, and Bill Clinton captured the White House in 1992 while managing only a tie with former President George H.W. Bush.

But in 2004 President Bush carried 55 percent of the white women vote, and 52 percent of women overall - a key reason he won his bid for a second term.

soundoff(231 Responses)

To Go Obama! – it is the white people of this country who has Obama where he is today. So please don't EVEN talk about white bigotry! Is we were bigots, he would not have won the primaries.

September 9, 2008 07:35 pm at 7:35 pm |

Obama 08 would be great

It's laughable that republican's are insinuating that Obama called sarah palin a pig I think what he meant to say was she's a fraud and a liar and you cant dress her up to be anything but what she is. By the way were republicans offended when she called herself a pit bull in lipstick?

September 9, 2008 07:35 pm at 7:35 pm |

D In TEXAS

LOL, way to go my liberal CNN. See that you are only posting liberal's comment. With time you be left out in the cold with the other liberal stations.

GO FOX!!!

Go McCain $ Palin !!!

mmmm wonder if CNN going to post this comment???? LOL

September 9, 2008 07:35 pm at 7:35 pm |

Lynn

I can see George Bush laughing his way out of the White House now...."we pulled the wool over their eyes once again" hahahaha Good work McCain!!

September 9, 2008 07:35 pm at 7:35 pm |

lucy m

I rather vote for a brain not lipstick!! Both Palin and McCain make me sick,
Palin is an extremist and McCain is a liar.

September 9, 2008 07:36 pm at 7:36 pm |

SIMON, CANADA

I look at America in disbelief for wanting to elect the same folks that has almost brought the world's greatest economy to its knees. Over What? Gender, race or pure hatred. I think America will look back to this mistake for a long time if they make it. From my perspective, the Democrats have the far better ticket. Can't even compare...